Bill > HB2574

This bill clarifies that the Preschool Open Doors Program, which provides financial assistance for preschool tuition for up to two years before kindergarten, is available to all eligible children, explicitly including those in foster care. The program aims to support families in accessing early learning services, which are crucial for children's development and school readiness. By specifically including foster children, the bill also seeks to address the state's difficulty in attracting qualified foster parents for young children, as the added expense of childcare can be a barrier. The bill amends existing law to allow foster parents to enroll their foster children in the program and defines "foster care" and "foster parent" for the purposes of this section.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2574&year=2026